Reference Publications, Fact Sheets & Databases

A useful compendium of information on environmental health including
profiles for about 45 different contaminants. The handbook also
has a helpful resource guide, which includes national resources
and information on many Ontario-based resources (due to the joint
authorship of the handbook with the provincial ministry of health)
Available online in PDF
format.

Investigating Human Exposure to Contaminants in the Environment:
A Community Handbook. Ministry of Supply & Services. Cat.
No. H49-96/2-1995E. Available online in PDF
format.

Two handbooks useful in helping communities and health professionals
understand the relationship between environmental exposures and
health effects.

They describe the step-by-step processes for a) performing an
exposure assessment and a health profile of a community and b)
calculating exposures to chemicals and radionuclides present in
the environment. They are primarily geared for communities in
the Great Lakes basin in Ontario.

Proceedings from "What on Earth," the 1997
national symposium on environmental contaminants and implications
for children’s health.
Entire proceedings available on diskette or selected papers published
in Supplement 1 of the Canadian Journal of Public Health (1998).

This database, cooperatively compiled by research programs of Cornell
University, Michigan State University, Oregon State University and
University of California at Davis, provides short summary reports
on more than one-hundred commonly used insecticides, fungicides
and herbicides. Pesticide Information Profiles (PIPs) provide an
overview of each pesticide's toxic effects and its expected actions
in the environment.

How Chemical Exposures Affect Reproductive Health - one
page fact sheets with a table of Reproductive Outcomes and Routes
of Exposureincluding information on reproductive
health effects from nearly 50 chemicals/substances.

Physician
Fact Sheet - Includes key points on chemicals that affect
reproductive and developmental health, recommended questions for
taking an environmental history and resources for more information.
In PDF format.

Patient
Fact Sheet - Includes key points on chemicals that affect
reproductive and developmental health, suggested information to
bring to your health care provider, and resources for more information.
In PDF format.

Currently under preparation by the WHO Task Force on Children’s
Environmental Health and due for release by March 2002, the
Handbook
on Children’s Environmental Health will be a useful resource
geared to health professionals.

EnviRN from
the University of Maryland School of Nursing, is a "virtual
resource for environmental health and nursing."

Pesticides
and Human Health: A Resource for Health Care Professionals.
This is an extensive 60-page review of scientific literature and
an essential reference for physicians and other health providers
for increasing awareness and understanding of the chronic health
impacts of pesticides. Written by Gina Solomon, M.D.,M.P.H., Oladele
Ogunseitan, Ph.D., M.P.H. and Jan Kirsch, M.D., M.P.H. Available
in PDF format.

Environmental
Concepts Made Easy. From the Center for Bioenvironmental
research of Tulane and Xavier Universities, New Orleans, Louisiana.
A useful Web site, particularly for information and links on environmental
estrogens and lead.

Opportunities for Further Education

A curriculum of six modules on core environmental health issues
in clinical practice. The modules impart key skills such as exposure
history taking, knowledge of environmental health resources and
risk communication. They are useful for self-directed learning and
for teaching.

The modules will soon be released in an online version at the OCFP
or the IJC Web sites.

ATSDR provides an online case study on lead exposure and information
on how to receive hard copies of other case studies in environmental
health issues. These case studies constitute continuing medical
education credits.

Sign on to the CEHN mailing list for notification of physician-oriented
conferences. The first one took place in June, 1999, and produced
an important document entitled "Training Manual on Pediatric
Environmental Health: Putting it Into Practice," available
in its entirety in PDF format on their Web site.

Diploma Program in Environmental Health.This is an eight-month
post-professional program (one full day per week) that can be completed
on campus or by distance education. Intended to provide new (or
upgraded) skills and knowledge for individuals from diverse backgrounds
including physicians and other health professionals. The program
is comprehensive and multidisciplinary and exposes the student to
many researchers in the field of environment and health.

Especially for Parents and Patients

This fledgling network links diverse Canadian groups active in
children’s environmental health issues. Its goals are to "protect
the health of all children from environmental hazards through the
promotion of safe environments for healthy growth and development"
through education, research, advocacy and policy development. The
site currently includes resources, contacts and a discussion group.

The Healthy Schools
Project is a Canadian Web site focused on alerting people
to the problems and remedial actions regarding indoor air and health
effects in children. It includes instructions on "best practices"
for creating healthier indoor environments in schools.

Hidden Exposures: A Practical Guide to Creating a Healthy
Environment for You and Your Children(2nd Edition, 2000).
Written by Nita Chaudhri et al. Presented by the Indoor Air Quality
Workgroup. Available from The South Riverdale Community Health Centre,
955 Queen St. East, Toronto, Ontario M4M 3P3
(416) 461-1925. Excerpts and ordering information can be accessed
in PDF format.

Over a dozen fact sheets that outline salient points and FAQs relevant
to environmental exposures of children and others. Some of the topics
include: Asthma, Biological Contaminants, Carbon Monoxide, Combustion
Appliances, Environmental Tobacco Smoke, Indoor Air Quality, Lead
Poisoning, Ozone, Pesticides and others.

Their "Toxic Chemicals" and "Health/Kid’s Health"
web pages include a parent’s guide to protecting children from environmental
risks and the NRDC’s in depth report, OUR CHILDREN AT RISK: The
5 Worst Environmental Threats to Their Health, from November
1997.